While it wasn't a match for the ages, the chanting from the Madrid's home stadium was familiar. Having been absent for some time, Jude Bellingham finally found himself before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the crowd's singing of his anthem. After a shoulder injury and questions about his position, he scored his first goal of the season, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Juventus side that made them work hard. “It was a tough battle,” commented Thibaut Courtois.
Decisive Stops Ensure the Victory
Courtois knew perfectly well, having to rescue a clear chance from the Serbian striker and make another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. The win puts Madrid on a strong tally and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with plenty of attempts but little elegance, the Juventus manager may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; the team's reality however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in difficulty is twice as dangerous,” Xabi Alonso had warned in advance.
The Turin-based club, who hadn’t won since September, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and again near the end. Madrid commanded the ball, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the counter, especially with the French defender surging forward and Vlahović linking up, firing off 12 shots compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
They had started well, without a doubt. Within three minutes, they thought they were in front, Vlahović somewhat unlucky to be called for pulling the Brazilian defender. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when Kalulu broke free on the right. And three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was pushed past the post.
What followed, from the defender's powerful strike, was a even better stop. A quarter of an hour had gone. However, soon the visitors' impetus had faded too. Madrid assumed command. Mostly it was rather mechanical, though, and the three best opportunities came to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. Two were headed over, a third took a deflection; an additional chance with the head was wasted by the center-back.
Guler Shines
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. The Turk, whose football was the nearest thing there was to fluidity, was constantly in the action. His clever control and spin saw him clip to the far post for Bellingham.
Little was seen of Kylian Mbappé yet, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to scoring. First his attempt was stopped by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make eight saves. Then some exquisite dribbling saw him evade Andrea Cambiaso repeatedly until he tumbled to the ground and set up Militão to blast over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop the runner at the start of the second half, and then came the regulation Courtois rescue when unexpectedly the attacker was through. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with Lloyd Kelly cutting out a pass inside his own penalty box and the ball bouncing from the instep of his boot right through the center to beyond the center circle. Racing after it, ample room appearing, the striker outpaced Militão, using his strength and advancing into the box where Courtois saved.
Next the usual pattern occurred, the save made good by the goal that comes after it. A flash from the Brazilian winger set up it, working himself enough space amid four men to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the post. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid should have finished it, Mbappé denied by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by the defender. Then Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
It was not the only one: as the game was drawing to a close, the defender had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the mercy of the substitute momentarily alone in the area. Finally in the final seconds the Madrid keeper dived to deny the midfielder, his job complete. For the visitors, there was no route to a comeback, the opening goal of the campaign the final of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve found the net, a period out and thinking of that instant, returning in the Champions League and against a major opponent. To get the decisive goal, here at home, it’s unbelievable. I was at ease, really good. To perform was important and to net the match-winner helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he continued: “It wasn't that last year was a disaster, with fifteen strikes, fourteen setups, but I understand the perception was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we underperformed last year, there were nonetheless good moments but not the standard I aim to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
